Oct 15 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Daniel Carson The News Herald, Panama City, Fla.

Green building slowly has gained momentum in Northwest Florida and the rest of the country as more home builders and owners look for ways to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

The newly formed Emerald Coast branch of the U.S. Green Building Council, which covers Bay, Walton, and Okaloosa counties, is holding its second meeting at 6 p.m. today in the Gulf Coast Community College Language and Literature building's Sarzin Lecture Hall.

GCCC spokesman Chris Thomes said even though GCCC is not partnering with the U.S. Green Building Council branch, the college is making a push to bring more awareness to green building and other energy efficiency issues.

A point of emphasis in GCCC's strategic plan is its advanced technology center. Thomes said the college seriously is considering a renewable energy and sustainable living curriculum for the new center.

"This does go hand in hand with what the college is looking at in the coming years," Thomes said.

Tonight's meeting is open to building professionals, environmental groups, architects, engineers and anyone with an interest in green building, according to GCCC.

Area Realtor Janis Boatright serves on the Emerald Coast branch's board of directors, and she worked with the Friends of St. Andrews Bay to put together the 30 Days of Green awareness campaign earlier this year.

Boatright said there continued to be a lot of interest in green building, with 40 people attending the first U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, meeting in Walton County.

She said she expected 50 to 60 people at tonight's meeting, which will be include information on LEED certification, membership information and plans for the new USGBC branch. LEED is a thirdparty certification program that is accepted nationally as a benchmark in green construction, according to the USGBC Web site.

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